Help with choosing Rome Churches to Visit besides St Peters

Hi Margaret, you have a pretty full schedule, but some free time to fit a few churches in. I suggest you see where you will be at whatever time you have free (location) and fit the churches closest into your schedule so that you have time to enjoy them. I have been a few times, and never miss a visit (or several if staying in the area) to Santa Maria Maggiore, it is beautiful. San Giovanni in Latrano is a must see IMHO, and the Holy staircase is right across the street, so don't miss that if at all possible. St. Peter in Chains has the Moses, and again very special, fit it in if you can, and Basilica S. Maria Degli Angeli is different and huge, but can be done in a short time. Just fit any and all that you can into your time, but these in order given) would be my suggestions time allowing. You will never forget any of them once seen.

Santi Quattro Coronati - close to San Clemente
San Luigi dei Francesi - close to Piazza Navona
Santa Maria Sopre Minerva - close to Pantheon

San Clemente is close to San Giovanni in Laterano, and Santa Prassede is close to Santa Maria Maggiore, so those are easy to pair.

If you are arriving or leaving by train, Santa Maria degli Angeli is near the station (you can walk around inside with luggage).

Santa Maria Della Vittoria and San Pietro in Vincoli might be harder to pair with something else, but both are relatively small.

I hate to add to your list, but San Luigi dei Francesi and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva have beautiful artwork. And the Pantheon is a working church, close to San Luigi dei Francesi.

Be sure to check closing times (some smaller churches close from 12-12:30 until 3pm).

Your choices are all very doable. Plan based on location. Get a Rome streetwise map from any "big box" chain bookstore. Here are some tips: go to Santa Prassede in the morning. It closes midday for Italian "siesta." Take some one euro coins to light up the mosaics. Then, stroll to Santa Maria Maggiore. It's close by and does not close midday. Take a metro ride and see the entire San Giovanni in Laterano complex. Outside, Go to the back of San Giovanni. Find the obelisk. The road near the obelisk gives you a straight on view of the colosseum. Walk down this road to San Clemente.
Santa Maria Vittoria closes midday for Italian "siesta." Go in morning or late afternoon. There are other churches close to Vittoria. Rather than go to St. Peter in chains - go (as suggested above) to Sopra Di Minerva, Pantheon, French San Luigi church, and St. Agnese (piazza Navona). These are all close together and will give you so much more for your time. Take coins to San Luigi and Sopra Di Minerva to "light up" the artwork. Book Recommendation to prepare : The Pilgrim's Guide to Rome's Principal Churches by Tylenda. You don't have time for Trastevere Church.

Even if you can't get to Santa Maria in Trastevere during its opening hours, it's worth a visit to the piazza and to look at the exterior. It is one of the oldest churches in the city.

I absolutely agree with trying to get to Santa Maria in Trastevere, and doing it when the church is open. The mosaics are wonderful and, as Zoe said, it's very, very old. It is your outlier, though.

S.Maria degli Angeli (not my favorite but interesting because of the incorporation of a former Roman bath) is very close to Santa Maria della Vittoria (and Termini station) so those two are easily combined but if time is short, you may want to skip them in favor of some of the others.

The Pantheon is a must-do for the architecture and history, IMHO.

Wherever you decide to go, remember that often in churches there are coin-operated boxes to turn on the lights for a few minutes in a particular area. Might be for a side chapel, or a painting, or the apse/altar area. It's a way for the church to cover the utility costs. I highly recommend plunking some coins in whenever you see such a box.

all of the churches on your list deserve a visit. the scheduling recommendations you already have are the key to making the most of the time you have. I discovered this year that Santa Maria in Trastevere has an evening prayer service (8 pm?) by a lay organization. It is really beautiful - and that means the church is open an extra half hour. Trastevere is a great place to eat too! While you are at the Vatican for the (gut-wrenchingly powerful) Scavi tour, go into St. Peter's where you should easily find confessionals with English speaking priests. Leave your sins there and then bask in the gift of forgiveness as you continue your pilgrimage. Many blessings! And as Pope Francis said, please pray for me.

Thankyou for all your wonderful advice and I will make an effort to go to Trastevere for evening service and then enjoy dinner and wine in the area. And yes Robert from NJ I will whisper a little prayer for you
Now I have more reading homework to do....
again Thank you ALL
Pat

Hi Margaret,
All great recommends above! If you enjoy Carravagio's paintings , go visit the Jesu Church (Jesuits), the large paintings next to the altar are amazing!!
Enjoy Rome!!
Terry Reilly

I would break the list into those you would need to make a specific trip to, and those that may be along the way of your wanderings without much of a detour. Plan out a couple the the destination churches, take advantage of the others as they come up.

I will add though that we had great fun and found some great little churches just by popping in a church along the way of our travels. It seems every block has a church better than the last.

If you use an igadget (or android gadget), you can download an app called City Maps to Go and you can 'star' the places you want to see, making it easier to not overlook anything if you are in a certain area. Of course, you can do this most likely on google maps, or just a regular old paper map. For me, it really helps in the excitement and strangeness of a new place to not miss anything and helps with planning my day.

The Tempietto by Bramante at San Pietro in Montorio is on my list for the next time I visit Rome. Located in Trastevere, it is considered a high point of classical Renaissance architecture.

Margaret,
I have a question for you about getting the reservation for the Holy Doors. We have filled out the forms and they say they are complete but we have not gotten the email with the reservation. Did you do it yourself or through the church? We will be overlapping in Rome - we arrive from Florence on that Saturday. Trying to do the Holy Doors on Monday.

Happy Travels.

Hi Larlock, I will send you a priveate post with further information. I had the hardest time with that because I wasn't sure what I was to do next but they said they would be in touch two weeks prior?
I will let you know if I hear further
Pat

We were in the Pantheon area on a Saturday afternoon and came across the Church of Santa Maria Magdelena (sp?) absolutely beautiful. My brother and I were both moved to tears. Of all the churches it was one of our favorites.